Sunday I spent the day in bed. I worked on homework and tried to refresh myself on the ridiculous number of past tense verbs. I was nervous about going to a Spanish church. I was excited because HOW COOL! But I was nervous because it was my first time and I didn't know what to expect.
I met two girls from my school there and we stood awkwardly outside (there were a bunch of people congregated on the sidewalk) for about 10 seconds before someone came over and asked if we were Americans (I will consider it a success when people don't immediately know that from looking at me). The girl, Kate was her name, talked to us for a bit introduced us to a girl from Switzerland, Llorena, and welcomed us inside. When we sat down, the pastor's wife introduced herself and said we could talk later.
We sang a bunch of Hillsong songs in Spanish and then sat through the service. I caught that it was about Jacob and Esau and that's about it. There were two salvations!! WOOHOO!
Afterwards the girls I came with and Llorena talked a bit and then the other girls left and Llorena and I decided to go out to dinner. We admitted that we'd both been hoping that people from the church would go out after so we hung back... and good thing too! About 20 people from the church all went to a restaurant just a few minutes away and I met so many people.
There's something to say about Christ followers that truly follow Christ. Everyone I've met here have been kind. But never (in the last week) did I feel so welcome as in that group of people who continuously engaged me in conversation and patiently waited while I stumbled through my attempts at Spanish.
I will go back, not because the message was amazing (I barely understood it) and not because the music was great (although it was) but because the body of Christ reached out their hands and welcomed me into a family when I had none.
What a truly beautiful reminder to us all. Who are you reaching out to?
In other news, I still don't speak much Spanish but I understand and attempt to speak more every day.
I'm finding Spanish movies online and listening to Spanish playlists.
I feel like I regress every time I speak and read and whatever in English. So I'm trying to do that as little as possible (aside from this blog ;) )
Classes are long but good.. well the classes aren't long but the days are. Monday through Thursday look like this
9-10 Class
10:10-11:10 Class
11:11-12:29 Homework? Explore?
12:30-1:30 Class
2:30 Lunch
3:15- 6 Homework? Siesta
6:30-7:30 Class
7:45- 8:45 Class
9:00 Dinner
10- ? Kill time until tired enough to sleep :)
Oh also my roommate moved out today because her program doesn't want her living with someone from another program. Whoops. :/
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